Macy's reports Q4 EPS $2.44 ex-charges, consensus $2.41Reports Q4 revenue $9.36B, consensus $9.4B. Comparable sales growth on an owned plus licensed basis for the fourth quarter was 2.5%. On an owned basis, fourth quarter comparable sales grew 2%. The fourth quarter charges of $87 million were lower than the estimate of $100 million to $110 million provided in the company’s Feb. 3 news release on investments for sales growth. This was primarily the result of lower severance expense as the company was able to place more associates than expected in new jobs within the company in the course of its workforce reductions.

Macy's technical comments before earnings releaseThe shares are in a topping pattern, with the $62 area a key support level. If there were a break below $62, the topping pattern would be confirmed. Next support in that event would be at $60.57, and then at $59 to $57.03. If the news is a positive surprise, next resistance would be at $65.74 and then at the 52-week high and life high at $68.30.

Earnings Preview: Macy's sees FY14 EPS $4.35-$4.37, SSS up 2.5%Macy's (M) is scheduled to report fourth quarter earnings before the market open on Tuesday, February 24, with a conference call scheduled for 10:30 am ET. Macy's is a retailer that sell a range of merchandise, including apparel and accessories, cosmetics, home furnishings and other consumer goods. EXPECTATIONS: Analysts are looking for earnings per share of $2.40 on revenue of $9.4B, according to First Call. The consensus range for EPS is $2.21-$2.59 on revenue of $9.32B-$9.56B. LAST QUARTER: Macy's reported third quarter EPS of 61c, above estimates for 50c, on revenue of $6.2B, slightly below estimates for $6.34B. Same-store sales, together with comparable sales of departments licensed to third parties, were down 0.7% from the prior year. Q3 comparable sales exclusive of licensed businesses were down 1.4%. Macy's chairman and Chief Executive Officer Terry Lundgren said the company was "optimistic" for Q4, though the company commented on the Q3 earnings conference call that it was "not counting on a lot of help from the economy" for the holiday season. Macy's said Q4 gross margin "could be flat or could be down." NEWS: In early February, Macy's raised its fiscal year 2014 EPS view to $4.35-$4.37 from its previous outlook of $4.25-$4.35. Estimates at that time called for FY14 EPS of $4.35. Macy's said the outlook excludes charges of approximately $100M-$110M related to the previously announced merchandising and marketing restructuring, store and field adjustments, store closings and asset impairment charges, as well as approximately $17M of interest expense related to the make-whole premium for the previously announced early retirement of debt. Macy's said Q4 comparable sales growth on an owned plus licensed basis was 2.5%. This calculates to growth in comparable sales on an owned plus licensed basis 2014 of 1.4%. On an owned basis, Q4 comparable sales were 2%. The retailer said its Q4 performance represents a "strengthening trend" from Q3 and spring season. The company said Jeff Gennette, president of Macy’s, will oversee Macy’s merchandise planning, as well as maintain oversight responsibility for merchandising and marketing of Macy’s stores and digital, and private brand product development. Gennette relinquished his day-to-day responsibilities as Macy’s chief merchandising officer. Peter Sachse, Macy’s chief stores officer since 2012, moved to a new role as Macy’s Chief for Innovation and Business Development. Jeff Kantor, previously chairman of macys.com, was named Macy’s Chief Stores Officer. The company also said R.B. Harrison would continue in his role as Macy’s. Chief Omnichannel Officer and that Julie Greiner, Macy’s Chief Merchandise Planning Officer since 2009, will retire from the company in August. During the quarter, Macy's said it would close 14 stores and restructure merchandising and marketing functions at Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s. In conjunction with the merchandising and marketing restructuring and store and field adjustments, as well as store closings and asset impairment charges, an estimated $100M-$110M of charges, of which approximately $80M-$90M is expected to be cash, will be booked in Q4. The retailer named RLJ Lodging Trust (RLJ) Chief Financial Officer Leslie Hale to its board of directors, sued Strategic Marks after the company attempted to acquire certain Macy's brand names and acquired Bluemercury for $210M in cash. STREET RESEARCH: Morgan Stanley downgraded Macy's to Equal Weight and removed shares from the Best Ideas List based on share and earnings outperformance. The analyst believes valuation appropriately values Macy's superior execution and sees balanced risk/reward going forward. Evercore ISI initiated Macy's with a Buy and $74 price target given its scale and stability, competitive advantages, strong vendor relationships and significant cash-flow generation. During the quarter, Macy's was also downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Northcoast. PRICE ACTION: Over the last three months, Macy's shares are up fractionally. In afternoon trading, he stock is down 0.3% to $63.51 ahead of Tuesday's report.

On The Fly: Analyst Initiation SummaryToday's noteworthy initiations include: Box, Inc. (BOX) initiated with a Hold at Canaccord... Euronav NV (EURN) initiated with an Overweight at Morgan Stanley... GoPro (GPRO) initiated with an Outperform at Northland... M/A-COM (MTSI) initiated with a Neutral at BofA/Merrill... Macy's (M) initiated with an Underweight at Barclays... NetSuite (N) initiated with an Underperform at Exane BNP Paribas... Omega Healthcare (OHI) initiated with a Neutral at BofA/Merrill... Pandora (P) initiated with a Neutral at Macquarie... Pattern Energy (PEGI) coverage resumed with an Outperform at BMO Capital... Regeneron (REGN) initiated with an Outperform at Bernstein... Trovagene (TROV) initiated with an Overweight at Piper Jaffray... Vista Outdoor (VSTO) initiated with a Market Perform at Cowen.

Macy's initiated with an Underweight at BarclaysBarclays started shares of Macy's with an Underweight rating saying it expects comps to remain under 2% as the retailer lacks exposure to the growing off-price segment. The firm put a $55 price target on shares. Shares of Macy's closed Friday down 34c to $64.32.